What is functional medicine?

According to The Institute for Functional Medicine, “Functional Medicine is a personalized, systems-oriented model that empowers patients and practitioners to achieve the highest expression of health by working in collaboration to address the underlying causes of disease. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.

Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.”

“Together, I believe we can change the doctor and patient relationship to achieve your desired level of optimal health.” – Dr. Anup Kanodia

Functional Medicine

Health oriented

Patient centered

Biochemical individuality

Holistic

Cost Effective

Looks at underlying causes of disease

Preventative approach

High touch/high tech

Conventional Medicine

Disease oriented

Doctor centered

Everyone is treated the same way

Specialized

Expensive

Diagnosis based on symptoms

Early detection of disease

High tech

Why See a Functional Medicine Dietitian?

A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a health professional that has university qualifications consisting of a 4-year Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or a 3-year Science Degree followed by a Master Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. RDs must also complete 1200 hours of supervised practical training in different hospital and community settings. The “RD” credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A nutritionist is a non-accredited title that may apply to somebody who has done a short course in nutrition or who has given themselves this title. The term Nutritionist is not protected by law; therefore people with different levels of knowledge can call themselves a “Nutritionist”.

Research Links

Current Research

Dr. Kanodia is currently co-principal investigator with Martha Herbert, MD, PhD on a research study funded by the Wallace Research Foundation. Martha is Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, a Pediatric Neurologist and Neuroscientist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The goal of the study is to collate health, quality of life and cost of outcomes in functional medicine clinics. The hope is to show patients getting better outcomes at lower costs for better quality of life.